Partial or complete fusion of the palpebral fissures. It is due to a defective separation of the palpebral fissures that are fused up to the 5th month of gestation. It seems to be associated with a mutation of the TP63 gene (3q27).

Different forms have been identified:

-         isolated palpebral fusion

-        palpebral fusion associated with other eye abnormalities

-        palpebral fusion associated with cardiac or cerebral abnormality such as in trisomy 18 (see Edwards syndrome)

-        palpebral fusion associated with ectodermal abnormalities and a cleft lip and/or palate as in Hay-Wells syndrome, EEC syndrome, ADULT syndrome (see these terms)

-        palpebral fusion in LMS syndrome (limb-mammary syndrome) or Rapp-Hodgkin syndrome

Anesthetic implications: 

according to the associated pathologies

References : 

-        Bordin G, Valerio E, Cutrone M.
Ankyloblepharon filiforme adnatum in a newborn.
Am J Perinatol Reports 2015; 5e12-3

Updated: July 2020